The Mound-Builders

Chapter VI: The Mound-Builder as Artist

CHAPTER VI THE MOUND-BUILDER AS ARTIST The significance of native American art-Distinctive phases of Mound-builder art-Personal adornment and decoration-Pearls and pearl necklaces-Art as a measure of culture status-Depiction of the human face and figureSculpture of bird and animal forms-Realistic, symbolic, and conventional designs-Engraving on bone-Ceramic art-Pottery of the Lower Mississippi area-Ceremonial and problematical artifacts. STUDY and appreciation of native American art have assumed very decided importance within the past few years. The collections of interesting objects from the highly developed civilizations of Mexico and Middle and South America in the larger museums are attracting marked attention from students of art; steps are being taken to revive and perpetuate the arts of the Pueblo tribesmen of the southwestern United States, particularly the crafts of basketry and weaving ; and students in public schools and colleges, as well as artists and students of art, are frequenting the museums where objects from the ancient mounds are displayed. Recently an exhibition of native American art was held at the Toledo Museum of Art in which the resthetic creations of the native peoples of both continents, historic and prehistoric, were featured exclusively. At the Ohio State Museum at Columbus the study of the art of the Mound-builders has been made a part of the public school curriculum and a feature of the Department of Fine Arts of the Ohio State University. Artists are finding in the artistic expression of aboriginal culture a wealth of ideas and motives which can be adapted to modern use. Numerous prehistoric designs are being utilized in the designing of modern fabrics and in the decoration of modern products of an artistic nature. It is natural, perhaps, to conceive of primitive art as being amateurish, and therefore it is surprising to find that often it is quite the reverse. 106 FIG. 53. WOVEN FABRIC IN COLORED DESIGNS With three skeletons in the central Seip Mound, Ross County, Ohio, there were found, preserved by the chemical action of large copper breastplates, corresponding portions of burial robes bearing designs in color. The photograph above was taken i" situ. The background of the fahric is maroon in color, with tan designs, outlined in black. The designs are not woven into the cloth, but are effected by staining or dyeing with mineral colors, possibly by the use of stamps or dies. Scale, 1/2. 107 ... o 00 FIG. 54. STRANDS OF PEARLS FROM MOUND BURIALS The mound-building peoples were excessively fond of pearls, the search for which was an important industry. The photograph shows pearls ranging from tiny seed pearls to specimens as large :is a small marble. Scale, 2/5. THE MOUND-BUILDER AS ARTIST 109 THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NATIVE AMERICAN ART So fascinating and so intricate and complex is the subject of native American art, even when the study is confined to the Mound-builder area, that volumes would be required to do it justice. The difficulty of presenting the art of the Moundbuilders intelligibly in so brief a space as is here available will FIG. 55. PENDANTS MADE FROM BEAR TEETH Not content with the product of the native brown or black bear, the Hopewell peoples went, or sent, to the far-distant Rocky Mountain district for canine teeth of the grizzly bear. These they drilled for suspension from the neck or for attachment to clothing, cut them into fanciful forms, and often set them with fresh-water pearls. Scale, 1/4. be readily apparent. No more than a hurried outline is possible , but it is hoped that this may suffice to induce the reader to pursue the subject further in its interesting ramifications. A number of partial general studies of mound art have been made, and numerous special or local monographs are to be had. Among the former may be mentioned The Art of the Great Earthwork Builders of Ohio by Dr. C. C. Willoughby and Aboriginal Pottery of the Eastern United States by Dr. 110 THE MOUND-BUILDERS FIG. 56. SPOOL-SHAPED COPPER EAR ORNAMENTS The copper ear spool is one of the commonest objects of adornment of the Hopewell culture of Mound-builders. Usually they are made of copper. but those in the illustration are fashioned from copper with one side faced with silver foil and the other with thin-pounded meteoric iron. From the Hopewell Group, Ross County, Ohio. Scale, full size. W...